Alabama beats Georgia, 26-23, in overtime to win the national championship

Gatehouse Media

Monday

Jan 8, 2018 at 3:31 PMJan 9, 2018 at 12:35 AM

Alabama never led during regulation, taking it's only lead on the final play of overtime.

FINAL: ALABAMA 26, GEORGIA 23, OVERTIME

WHERE THE GAME TURNED: With Georgia leading 13-0 early in the third quarter, Alabama true freshman quarterback Tua Tagovailoa broke a tackle in the backfield and scrambled for nine yards and a first down. The play lit a fire under the Alabama offense, and the Tide went on to score 26 points of the game's final 36 points, and Alabama earned the national championship over Georgia, 26-23.

Alabama vs. Georgia

College Football Playoff championship key plays

KEY PLAY: Tony Brown wrestles the ball away from a Georgia receiver for an interception on the game's opening possession.

KEY PLAY: A penalty negates a 35-yard field goal from Alabama's Andy Pappanastos, and the senior missed the ensuing 40-yard attempt to keep the game scoreless after each team's first possession.

KEY PLAY: On third and 20 from the Georgia 48, Bulldogs running back Sony Michel ripped off a 26-yard run down the right sideline to give Georgia its first scoring chance of the game with timing ticking down in the opening quarter.

End of the first quarter: Alabama 0, Georgia 0

SCORING PLAY: Rodrigo Blankenship connects on a 41-yard field goal to give Georgia a 3-0 lead with 14:14 remaining in the half.

KEY PLAY: Another big third-down conversion from near midfield gets Georgia back in scoring position. On third and eight from their own 47, the Bulldogs got a 23-yard completion from Jake Fromm to Riley Ridley to get the ball to the Alabama 30.

SCORING PLAY: Blankenship adds a 27-ayrd field goal to extend Georgia's lead to 6-0 with 7:33 remaining in the first half.

SCORING PLAY: Bulldogs receiver Mecole Hardman runs it in from 2-yard out on a direct snap to give Georgia a 13-0 lead with 7 seconds remaining in the second quarter.

KEY STAT OF THE HALF: Third down has favored the Bulldogs, and so does the scoreboard. Georgia has converted six of its 11 third-down opportunities. Alabama only has converted once on third down, going 1 for 6 in the half.

End of the second quarter: Georgia 13, Alabama 0

KEY PLAY: On third and seven near midfield, Alabama backup quarterback Tua Tagovailoa shook off a huge hit in the backfield, scrambled across the field and ran for nine yards nine yards and a first down. The scramble gave life to the Alabama offense for the first time since the Tide's opening drive.

SCORING PLAY: Tagovailoa threw a dart into the back of the end zone, finding Henry Ruggs for a six-yard score. Andy Pappanastos added the extra point with 8:52 remaining in the third.

SCORING PLAY: Georgia answers quickly. Exactly 2 minutes later, Hardman pulls in an 80-yard pass down the right sideline to put Georgia back up by 13. Georgia leads 20-7 with 6:52 remaining in the third quarter.

KEY PLAY: Deandre Baker pulls down an interception to put Georgia in business on Alabama's side of the field. The Bulldogs take possession at the Tide's 39.

KEY PLAY: One play later, Alabama has the ball back. The ball bounces around in the air and Raekwon Davis comes down with an interception to give the Tide the ball at the Georgia 40.

SCORING PLAY: Pappanastos splits the uprights form 43 yards away to cut the Georgia lead to 10 with 5:15 remaining in the third.

End of the third quarter: Georgia 20, Alabama 10

KEY PLAY: Najee Harris has sparked the Alabama offense. On his first two carries of the game, the freshman has 51 yards and has the Tide inside the Georgia 10.

SCORING PLAY: Pappanastos adds three more points, this time from 30 yards out, and Alabama closes within a touchdown, 20-13 with 9:24 remaining in the game.

KEY PLAY: Alabama's defense makes a stop on third and two with Georgia in the wildcat formation that led to Hardman's second-quarter touchdown, forcing the Bulldogs to punt. The Tide takes over with 7:10 remaining, down a touchdown.

SCORING PLAY: Calvin Ridley pulls down a pass on fourth and four from Tagovailoa at the Georgia 7, and Alabama ties up the game with 3:49 remaining in regulation.

KEY PLAY: Pappanastos misses from 36 yards as time expires, and the first overtime game in CFP championship history enters the extra frame tied 20-20. Pappanastos missed twice in regulation.

End of regulation: Alabama 20, Georgia 20

SCORING PLAY: After a Terrell Lewis sack forced Georgia to attempt a 51-yard field goal, Blankenship came through, making the attempt to give the Bulldogs the lead.

SCORING PLAY: Tagovailoa takes a sack on the Tide's first offensive play in OT, but he delivers on the next play. The freshman hit DeVonta Smith for a 41-yard touchdown to give Alabama its only lead of the game on it's last play. Alabama beats Georgia, 26-23.

FINAL IN OT: Alabama 26, Georgia 23

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